Running light for watercraft



July 10, 1962 D. M. SMITH RUNNING LIGHT FOR WATERCRAFT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11. 1958 IN VENTOR. wDav/4112M 5M/77/ ATTORNEY July 10, 1962 D. M. SMITH 3,043,949

RUNNING LIGHT FOR WATERCRAFT Filed Aug. 11. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. 15 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,043,9'49 RUNNING LIGHT FOR WATERCRAFT Donald M. Smith, 17834 Beechwood, Southfield Township, Oakland County,,,Mich.

Filed Aug. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 754,432 20 Claims. (Cl. 240--7.5)

This invention relates to running lights for watercraft abaft the beam on its side. In the case of sailboats, deckfitted lights are not always feasible, because of the large amount of gear employed and the use of hand lanterns permitted in the small boats is not a satisfactory solution. There has been a great need for an adjustable running light accurate in its functioning. Moreover, for a running light that may be applied to both deck and rigging mounting and that may be quickly placed in position or released therefrom. There has also been a need for a compact light, carrying its own source of power. The present invention accomplishes all of these aims and provides a reliable, positive and easily secured, safe running light.

An object of my invention is to provide a running light having means for mounting it to one or a pair of sailboat stays and adjustable relative thereto for directing its light beam along a predetermined path.

I Another object is to provide a running light provided Withreleaseable means for deck mounting the light and including means providing a positive lock therefor when in mounted. position.

Still another object is to provide a running light, the parts for which can be used for either port or starboard light application.

A further object is to provide a running light of universal character having means for deck or stay attachment.

A specific object isto provide a running light comprising a hollow body constituted of front and rear generally vertical sections releaseably interlocked and wherein the front section releaseably and resiliently mounts an electric bulb within the body whose globe nests in a recess forming the apex of an outer surface depression having converging sides defining a light emitting sector of predetermined angular spread. 7

Another specific object is to provide a running light of the 'chara'cter'of the preceding object wherein the front section includes a pair of generally horizontal interconnected battery cell receiving pockets for locating the cells in separable relationship,resilient electrical contact means at the base of said pockets and fixed'or releaseably secured in the wall thereof, for electrical connection with said cells when the latter are brought into contact therewith, resilient electrical contact means fixed or releasably secured in the wall of the other section for electrical connection with said cells, said electrical contactmeans in said sections being arranged to connect said cells in series and in series with the bulb of the running light and a manually operable control switch therefor.

It is another object to provide a running light structure comprising abutting substantially vertical fore and aft body sections having transverse ring-receiving channels in their surfaces adjacent a plane substantially through but preferably in a juxtaposed position above the horizontal center of gravity of the total running light structure in which may be seated a r'eleaseable spring member in which and the body colored for daytime observation and includthe running light body is rotatably adjustable when the spring member is in a fixed position and which ring member is adapted to carry one or more outriggers for mounting the light in operative position on a sailboat Or other watercraft.

A particular object is to provide a running light structure as in the preceding object whose ring member is in a plane immediately above the horizontal center of gravity axis of the light structure and whose outrigger has offset portions, one in the plane of said ring member, and the other portion in a plane substantially on the horizontal center of gravity axis of the light structure, the latter portion being provided with means for securing the outrigger to a stay.

Another particular object is to provide a running light of the character of the preceding objects wherein one of the body sections resiliently mounts an electric light bulb against the inner terminal bore of a surface depression forming a sharply defined sector for controlling the extent of the light beam and wherein the body structure may be rotated in the plane ofsaid ring member and relative to said ring member for adjusting the direction of said light beam relative to said outrigger.

Another specific object is to provide a running light as in the preceding object wherein the sector is black in color ing an electric bulb whose globe is of the same color.

It is also an object to provide a running light structure in which the globe of the light bulb has a film or layer of red or green colored material for port or starboard 1 lights as the case may be, thereon or adjacent thereto.

. Other'objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and from the drawings wherein: j

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the running light structure of my invention provided with means for deck mounting and in which the body section holding ring includes opposite outriggers for stay mounting;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional elevational view taken at,

FIGURE 2 showing details of the deck mounting struc ture;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional segmentary view taken at 5-5 of FIGURE 1 showing the holding ring seated in a channel of the surface of the body;

7 FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion. of the outrigger between the body and stay clamp;

' FIGURE-7 is' a schematic view showing portions of the structure of FIGURE 2 illustratingan electrical connection arrangement, whereby the body sections may be separated for replacing batteries or bulb without disconnecting any wires; e

FIGURE 8 is an elevational viewof a portion of a sailboat showing" the running light of my invention with opposite Outriggers for attachment to adjacent stays at the starboard side;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the boat of FIGURE 8 showing the manner of stay mounting a pair of running lights and showing the light sector adjusted to prevent the lights from showing across the bow of the boat;

FIGURE 10 isa further elevational view of the boat of FIGURE 8 provided with a deck fitted running light of Patented July. 10, 19 2 sin'gleopposite mast stays and showing the manner of securing the running light of my invention to a single stay by using a single outrigger;

FIGURE13 is a planview of the boat of FIGURE 12 showing opposite single stay mounted running lights;

' FIGURE14 shows the boat of FIGURE 12 fitted with apair or combination deck fitted runninglights of my invention; and

FIGURE 15 shows the manner of mounting the running lights of FIGURE 14.

,Referring now to the various figures especially FIG- URES 1 to 6, in Whichsimil-ar numerals indicate corresponding parts of the running light structure of my invention, the numeral generally represents a watertight'hou'sing orbody structure of the running light structure which by preference is constituted of two abutting sections12 and 14, preferably generally vertically orranged and formed by moulding or casting of suitable shock'resistant synthetic resin or light metal of which the sectiong12 is the front ,or light beam projecting section and. the section 14 is the rear section, the section 12 being provided with .a light emitting window generally designated by the numeral '13.

The body structure 10 is preferably generally pyramidalin shape and has abase 16 of generally flat and rectangular shape and a rounded apex 18. The body structure is hollow providing compartments 20, 22 defined generally by walls 26, 24 respectively, of the sections 12, 14 respectively, for receiving and mounting a light bulb generally designated by the numeral 28, batteries 30, 32, a switch 34-and electrical circuiting to be described.

.The sections 12 and 14 preferably abut in a plane face 36 slightly oblique to the vertical such that the section 12 in effect tips rearwardly at the top. The function of this is to provide a mounting face to accurately orient thev 38 offthe bulb 28 which is generally normal thereto and approximately 10 degrees to the horizontal such that the barrel of the bulb projects downwardly into the chamber. 20. Y

The peripheraledges of the abutting sections 12, 14 preferably compriseinterlockinglips or projections 40, '42 arranged-to form- -a watertight joint 43 which, as seen in- FIGURE 2, may be a lap joint. By preference, the sections, are held interlocked by a split spring type clamping band or ring 44 received in suitable shallow horizontal channels 46, which may be formed by recessing the, surface of the body as at the four corners of the body. The open'ends of the spring ring 44 are formed withoutward-ly extending fingers or portions 48, 50 which are brought into body clamping relation and held there-. in bya knurled ring-like slip lock member or nut 52 which isslipped over these fingers. to hold the ring 44 in locked position. It will be understood that supplemental means suchasfinger screws may be employed to hold theseetions 12, 14 together but I have found that the; ring is adequate and preferable since it enables rapiddisassenrbly and reassembly of the body sections to replace the bulband batteries.

7 It will be. observed that the window 13 is formed. centrally of the body 10 by :a depression 54 in the upper portions of the outer surface of the section 12 and terminates inwardly in an aperture 56 formed by the intersection of the depression54 and a tapered bore or countersink 58 inthe face 36 such that the aperture 56 in effect opens into the compartment 20 of the body 10. 1

' A feature of my invention is theparticular shapingof the depression 54 to provide a properly directed light beam of red or green color as the case may be. Thus the depression is preferably formed by three generally triangular intersecting flat planes or faces 60, 62 and 64 whose apex, as seen in FIGURE 1, is behind the coil filament 65 of the bulb 28 such that the aperture 56 through the apex will be large enough, to contain the full filament and the latter will extend within the depression 54 so as to obtain the full brilliance of the bulb. The faces 62 and 64, as seen in FIGURE 1, are vertical faces normal to the base of the body 10 and form a sector or included angle between them preferably of 112 /2" or 10 points of the compass. These faces serve to sharply block out visibility of the light from the bulb 28 over all but 10 points nautically speaking, of the compass, as will hereinafter be explained, yet permit unobstructed vision within such 10 points. The face 60 forms an angle of with the intersection of faces 62, 64 or stated otherwise, an angle of 60 with the joint face 36, 30 with the axis 38 of the bulb 28, and an angle of 20 with the base 16 of the body so as to provide a limited angle of depression to restrict reflection of the beam from other surfaces of the boat. Toimplement this result, the faces 60, 62, 64 are preferably painted or otherwise colored black. Moreover, the remainder of the body 10 is preferably colored red or green as required for port or starboard application on a boat although such coloring may be omitted where it is desired to have both port and starboard lights the same except for bulb color.

Another feature of my invention is the novel mode of securely, yet detachably mounting the bulb 28 in the recess 52 of the window 13 so that the globe portion 66 rests in the periphery of the aperture 56 and is water sealed from the compartment 20. Thus I. provide a ring 68 of rubber or other resilient plastic material preferably mounted against the jointface 36 of the section12, by an apertured elliptical shaped metallic member 70 which is secured to the face, 36, as seen in'FIGURE l, by pins or screws 72. The ring 68 preferably has a peripheral groove or channel comprising lips 74 which may be snapped over and snugly fit'with a Watertight seal against the inner lip 76 of the apertured member 70. 'It will be understood that the ring .68 may if desired be shaped to fit in the recess 58 and be cemented in place in which case the member 70 may be omitted.

The ring 68, as seen in FIGURE 2, has an internal circular face 78 which preferably, substantially conforms to the surface of the globe 66 of the bulb 28 and which is larger in diameter at its outer end adjacent the face 36 of body section 12 than at its inner end from which the stem'80 of the bulb 28 projects so as to formin effect a lip 82 overlying the surface of theglobe 66. By preference the difference in sizes between the inner diameter of the face'78and the globe 66 will be such that the globe portion of the bulb 28 may be forced past lip 82 and be tightly seated by lip against the periphery of the aperture 56 in the window 54 and in any desired axial position.

The glass globe 66 of the bulb 28 will preferably be colored red or green as required, which color be visible looking at the window 13. It will be understood that a plastic cap of corresponding. color may be snapped over the globe 66, ifdesired, in preference to coating it or the aperture 56 may be provided with a colored plastic insert cemented in the recess 58.- Moreover, the cap may be formed as part of the ring 68.

The compartment 22 in the body section 12 has its sides preferably shaped to conform to the shape of the dry batteries 30, 32. It'includes a raised elongated base por-,

tion or rib 84 which has a similar tandem section 86 in thecompartment 20. The rib 84 in effect produces separate spaced pocketsin the compartment--22 of section 12 for receiving and holding one end of the batteries 30 and 32. These pockets together with the rib 86 of section 14 prevent shifting or displacement of the batteries 30, 32.

Suitable electric circuiting is preferably provided for the bulb 28 preferably under control of the switch 34. Thus' the batteries30, 32=are positioned with the positive pole. of battery 30 and negative pole of battery'32 in the compartment 22 where they may be electrically interconnected by -a spring type contact bar 90, having its opposite ends 92, '94- (see FIGURE 1)' formed to contact these polesrespectively. The bar 9 0 may be rigidly or detachably secured to the section 12 in any suitable manner, as by cementing or by pins (not shown) to a pad 96 on wall 24 in the inner end of the compartment 22.

The opposite positive pole of battery 30 may be arranged to contact the base leg 98 of an L-shaped spring contact member 100 which is secured in a manner similar to bar 90 to a pad 102 on the wall 26 of the section 14, The member 100 as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 has a shaped resilient vertical leg 104 which resiliently contacts the inner or central terminal 106 of bulb 28.

Also secured to pad 102 in a manner similar to member 100 is a U-shaped spring contact plate 108 which is arranged in contact with the negative pole .of battery 32 and has an insulated pigtail wire 110 which extends therefrom to one side of switch 34, the other side being connected by a similar elongated pigtail wire 112. with the outer surface on the stem of bulb 28 as at 114. Preferably the wire 112 will be made of sufiicient length to permit separation of the body sections to replace the batteries without disconnecting any leads. 4 Thus when the switch 34 is thrown to its on position by the lever 113, an electric circuit will be completed through the batteries 30, 32 and bulb 28 and it will become lighted. When the switch 34 is placed in its 01f position, the circuit will be opened and the light will go out.

FIGURE 7 schematically illustrates a modified electrical circuiting whereby the sections 12, 14 of the body structure (shown partly in phantom) may be completely separated without disconnecting any leads and which avoids the long leads of FIGURE '2. By this arrange: ment a threaded sleeve 115 is provided over the stem 80 of bulb 28. The sleeve v115 has a shoulder portion 116 for seating an insulation member 117 which carries a contact pin 118 bearing against contact 106 of the bulb and projecting outwardly of opening 119 of sleeve 115. The sleeve 115 and contact 118 are connected by suitable pigtail wires 120, 121 with separate spring contacts 122, 123 mounted on seat 96 in the pocket 22 of section 12' each making contact with one of-batteries 30, 32. In this manner all connections for bulb 28 are confined to section 12. Similarly a pair of separate spring contacts 124, 125 are secured to seat 102 of section 14, each making contact with one of batteries 30, 32 and each connecting with .one side of switch 34 by wires 126, 127. Thus the control circuit wiring is entirely in section14. It will be noted that the resilient bulb holding ring 68 in thisv modification carries a transparent globular extension 128 of rubber or plastic for enclosing the globe 66 of bulb 28 and which would be colored red or green as required. This extension may, if desired, be a separate piece held in the bore 58 by the ring 68.

A particular feature of the running light structure of my invention is its adaptability for use on sailing craft where it may be secured to one or more of the mast stays. 9, 12, and 13. Toaccomplish this I preferably secure the side 130 .of spring ring'44 diametrically opposite itsopen end an outrigger generally designated by the numeral 131 and which comprises an elongated substantially rigid, wire-like arm 132 having its inner 'end formed with a short leg 133 bent to conform to ring 44 and which is preferably welded or brazed thereto. As shown in FIGURE 6, the arm 13 2 has an offset portion 134 in the plane of FIGURE 3 i.e., a plane normal to the base 16 and at right angles to the plane of the ring 44, to the outer end 135 of which is connected a cylindrical stay clamp member.136 made of metal or a suitable tough plastic'such asTeflon. By, preference, the oflsetof the'j outrigger ismade such that-the outer end 135, whose Such an arrangement is shown in FIGURES 8,

axis 'is also the axis of the member 136, is in a plane passing through the center of gravity of the body 10 with all parts .in place and with the ring 44 in a slightly, higher plane. This reduces to a minimum any torque producing tendency by wind action or heeling of the boat on the body 10 around the clamp and keeps the body in upright position relative to the ring 44 arm 132.

The stay clamp 136 is provided with .an axial bore '137 at its inner end to tightly receive the outer end of the outrigger 131. A cross hole 138 in the stay clamp 136 receives the extreme end of the outrigger. This cross hole has a threaded portion 139 of reducedsection which is provided with aset screw 140 to lock the end 135 in the clamp preferably by slight bending thereof. The opposite end of the clamp member is provided with a threaded bore 141 coaxial with the bore 137 and which receives a lock screw 142. The threaded bore opens into transverse stay-receiving edge slot 144 arranged oblique to the axis of the clamp and in a plane normal to the plane of the ring 44 such that the mast stay will betrapped in the slot 144.

Thus as seen in FIGURES 12 and 13, it is possible by means of the outrigger 131 to secure the running light structure of my invention to a single mast stay of a sail-boat there shown, the stay 150 being received in the slot 144 of stay clamp 136 and being clamped by the lock screw 142 such that the outrigger projects at substantially right angles to the stay as seen in FIGURE. 12 and forwardly thereof as seen in 'FIGURE 13. It will be understood that they outrigger maybe adjusted to any desiredv position about the stay.

.By' combining the outrigger 131 with the clamp ring 44 a further important feature is obtained. Thus as evident from the FIGURE 13, the body 10 of the running light is rotatably adjustable in the clamp ring 44 to facilitate positioning of the side planes or faces 62 64 of the window 13 in correct relation to the longitudinal or fore and aft centerline of the boat such that one face extends dead ahead parallel to such centerline and the other face angles rearwardly and this regardless of the position of the outrigger 131. When so adjusted, the running light will be visible from a distant point over a compass sector equivalent to 8 points forward of the beam and 2 points aft of the beam and only on the side to which the light is secured. This will be evident from FIGURE 12 where the face 64 of the window of the starboard (right side looking forward) or green light'G extends dead.

131A may be provided on the clamp ring 44, one of the outriggers 131A being then provided as shown in FIG URE 1 by an extension of the clamping finger 50 of the clamp ring 44. 'Alternatively the ring 44 can be provided withtwo identical outriggers 131 by offsetting the split or open end of the ring 44 slightly from the diametrical axis through the Outriggers. In all cases it will be evident that the Outriggers may be left clamped to the stays and the. body of the running light can be removed to replace a lamp or batteries by merely releasing the lock nut 52. Moreover, it will beobserved that the outrigger construction is such that the length of the wire arm 135 can be adjustedto anydesired length on the job.

'FIGURES 8 and 9 show the running lights G and R secured to double stays; Their bodies 10 will be positioned on their respective clamp rings 44 exactly as shown in 'FIGURE 13 with the face 162 of the window of the red light R dead ahead and the face 164 of the green light G dead ahead. It will be evident from 'FIG URE 9 that the stays and clamps will not obstruct the visibility required by law of these running lights nor A further feature of my invention is its adapt-ability to' deck mounting; Such is'required for instance on motor watercraft. Thls arrangement is shown in FIGURES 14 and 15 where adjacent running-lights R and G are desired at the bow of a boat which may be motor or sailboat, and in FIGURES 10 and 11 showing the lights R and 'G secured amidship to the deck of a sailboat. For this purpose I preferably provide the base of body sec: tion 14 as seenin FIGURES 1 to 4 with a triangular shaped plate-like projection 200, a portion 202 of which extends forwardly under the section 12 and the remainder of which is integral with the section 14. As seen in FIG- URES 1 and 3 and 4, the side edge faces 204, 206 of the triangular projection 200 slope downwardly and out-. wardly and extend rearwardly to form ana pex 208 while the baseedge -face'209 of the triangle is square with the base. The projection 200 of the body 19 is adapted to be interlocked with a deck plate 210 which may also be of triangularform and which may be secured by screws 212 to the deck locations where the running lights R and G are to mounted. The plate 210 is somewhat thinner .and rear sections, a light beam determining depression than the depth of the'projection 200 and has an opening 7 of triangular shape slightly larger than the projection such that the'latter may be' dropped into this opening. Moreover, the rearwardly extending sides 216, 218 of the opening 214 ofdeck plate 210 have faces which are complementary to the faces 204, 206 respectively of the projection 200. Thus when the projection 200 is dropped into, the opening 214 and slid-toward the apex formed by thesides 216, 218 the projection and plate becomeinterlocked, dovetail fashion. In order to prevent the interlock releasing by being jarred, I further preferably provide the front section with a lock thumb screw 2'20threadedly carried in forward projection 222 of the forward section 12 and which has a dowel tapered tip- 224, which is received in a mating hole 226 of a corresponding projection 228 of the'deck plate'2ltl when the running light body 10' is in locking position. v

Normally, no rotational adjustment is required in the case of a deck-mounted running light for correctly positioning the light beam but'where such may be desired, it willbe evidentvthat the projection 200 may be made as a separate plate secured by a pivot pin (not shown) to the baseof the'rear section 14 and the deck plate may be provided with a series of holes 226 arranged on an arc having the said pivot as its center to facilitate locking of the body 10 inone of a number of selected positions. It will also be understood that the projection 200 may be reversed so that the lock screw 220 will be on the section 14.

From the above description of my invention it will be apparent that I have presented a novel self-powered running light structure for watercraft that has universal ap plicati'on, that is accessible for replacing parts, that is easily'assembled and mounted, and that is well adapted forcarrying out thestrict functions of a running light. Itwill be evident that manymodifications and changes may be inadeby those skilled in the art in the specific features without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention. For instance, the body structure can be made of metal such as brass or aluminum and colored by anodizing in whichcase the various contact bars of the electricalcircuiting'described abovewill be suitably insulated from the body. Accordingly, all such changes and modifications as may come within the scope .of the apon the outer part of said from section, a second smaller depression on the inner side of said front section and con-' necting with said front depression by a light transmitting aperture, means resiliently mounting an electric bulb having a globe portion enclosing a lighting filament and a shank portion comprising electrical elements electrically in series with said filament, with its said globe portion in said inner depression and with its said shank portion projecting into the interior of said body structure, a pair of battery contacts on each of said front and rear sectionsof said body structure, an electrical connector making electrical connection with the electrical elements of said shank of said bulb, electrical conductors electrically connecting said connector with the said pair of battery contacts on said front section 'to provide a series connection thereof with said bulb filament, switch means on said rear section for controlling the electrical circuit to said bulb andelectrical conductors electrically connecting said switch means in series with said pair of battery contacts on said rear section.

3. A running-light for watercraft comprising a'hollow body structure including generally vertical abutting front and rear sections, a depression in the upper outer part of said front section terminating in an aperture connecting said depression with the interior of the body, means interiorly of said body for suporting an electric bulb with its global portion in said aperture, said bulb being adapted to project .a beam of lightoutwardly of said aperture, channels at the surface of said body sections in a plane substantially transversely of said sections and below said depression for receiving a ring-like member, a ring-like member embracing said sections in said channels and releasably holding said sections in abutment and a base portion on said rear section for releasably securing said body strucure to a deck plate. 7

4. A watercraft running light of the type using an electric bulb having a longitudinal axis, said light com-,

an aperture connecting said depression with the interior of said body, one of said triangular faces makingan acute angle with the plane of said base, electric bulb mounting means at the inner end of said aperture mounting said bulb for projecting a beam of light outwardly of said aperture within the confines of said depresison, a pair of ring receiving channels on each body section at the surface of said sections below said depression and in a plane transversely of said plane of abutment and generally paralleling a plane containing the axis of said bulb, each said, channels being located at the intersection of side faces forming said pyramidal shaped body, and a locking ring embracing said sections in said channels and releasably holding said sections in abutment while facilitating swing of said depression within said ring in said transverse plane to adjust said'beam, said locking ring including boat staymounting means for mounting said body to1a boat stay.- I a l 5. A watercraft running light employing an electric bulb of the type-havinga global portion and a shank portion and having a longitudinal axis, said running light comprising a substantially rigid hollow body structure including generally vertical abutting front and rear sections, an w open light beam determining depression in the upper outer part of said front section defined by the outer surface thereof, a second smaller globe receiving depression on the inner side of said front section and defined by the inner surface thereof connecting by an aperture with said outer depression, a bulb mounting member secured to said front section over said inner depression and holding said bulb with its globe portion seated in said inner depression and in part projecting into said aperture, said mounting member having a central opening through which the shank portion of said bulb may project interiorly of said body and defining a bearing surface for embracing the globe portion of said bulb, said bulb when so positioned being adapted to project a beam of light outwardly of said inner and outer depressions, means providing a plurality of ring receiving channels adjacent the surface of said body sections in a plane substantially transversely of said sections'and below said outer depression, a locking ring embracing said sections in said channels and releasably holding said sections in abutting relationship,

and releasable mounting means rigidly connecting with said ring for securing said body structure in light casting position on said watercraft, I

6. A running light for Watercraft comprising a hollow generally pyramidal body structurewhose base is generally flat and Whose apex is rounded, said body structure including abutting generally vertical front and rear sections whose plane of abutment passes through said base and apex, a depression in the upper part of one of said sections of said body defined by three generally triangular inwardly converging faces terminating in an aperture connecting said depression with the interior of said body, one

of said triangular faces making an acute angle with the plane of said base, means at the inner end of said aperture providing a beam of light for projection outwardly of said aperture Within the confines of said depression, a pair of ring receiving channels on each body section at the surface of said sections in a plane transversely of said plane of abutment thereof and below said depression, each said channel being located at the intersection of side faces forming said pyramidal shaped body, a locking ring embracing said sections in said channels and releasably holding said sections in abutment and means mounting said body structure to said watercraft, said body structure being selectively adjustable to swing said beam in the plane of said ring.

7. A running light for watercraft comprising a hollow body structure including generally vertical abutting front and rear sections, a light beam determining depression in the upper part of said front section terminating in an aperture connecting said depression with the interior of said body, means interiorly of said body for supporting an electric bulb adapted to project a light beam outwardly of said aperture, channel means on said body sections in a plane below said depression, a ring-like member embracing said channel means and releasably holding said body sections in abutment while permitting relative rotation of said body structurewithin said member, a stiff body structure and member supporting outrigger extending outwa-rdly of said member, anda stay gripping element on said outrigger for securing said outrigger to a boat stay.

8. Arunning light as claimed in claim 7, wherein there is a second outrigger and associated stay gripping element at thesubstantially diametrically opposite side of said ring-like member from the outrigger and element recited therein.

9. A running light as claimed in claim 7, wherein said outrigger is substantially on the horizontal center of gravity of said body structure when said body is in operative position.

10. A running light as claimed in claim 7, wherein said ring-like member is in a plane above the center of gravity of said body structure when in operative position and the stay gripping element of said outrigger is sub- 10'- stantia'lly on the center of gravity thereof such that a rela-v tively small turning moment is transmitted to said gripping element on the axis thereof. v v 11. A running light as claimed in claim 7, wherein said ring-like member is in a plane in juxtaposition to and; above the center of gravity of said body structure when; in operative position and the stay gripping element of said outrigger is substantially on the center of gravity thereof such that a relatively small turning moment is transmitted to said gripping element on the axis thereof and wherein said gripping element has a transverse groove for receiv said boat stay, said groove being substantially normal to the plane of said ring-like member. p 12. A running light for watercraft comprising a body structure for housing a battery source of electric power and including abutting front and rear sections each hav ing an exterior surface of predetermined configuration, a light beam determining depression in the upper outer partof said front section, a smaller electric bulb receiving depression on the inner side of said front section term-inating in an aperture connecting this depression with-said outer depression, resilient bulb mounting means secured? to said front section over said inner depression and adapted for maintaining the globe portion of a. bulb in said inner depression, a pocket in said front section for receiving the complete end portions of a pair of batteries in separated relation with part thereof extending into said rear section, resilient electric contact means at the base of: said pocket for making contact with one end. of one of said batteries and the opposite end of the other, a wall portion on the interior of said rear section for supporting said extending portions of said batteries, a resilient electric contact means in said rear section for making contact with the ends of said batteries in said rear section, means for electrically interconnecting the said batteries in series with said bulb through said contact means, and means for holding said sections together.

13. A running light structure as claimed in claim -12, wherein said series circuiting includes a manually operable. switch secured to one of said sections.

14. A running light for watercraft comprising a body structure for housing a battery source of electric power and including abutting vertical front and rear sections: each having an exterior surface of predetermined configuration, a light beam determining depression in the upper part of said front section terminating in an aperturehaving an opening smaller than the globe portion of said bulb through the shank portion of said bulb may. project and said opening being defined by a wall which will seat said globe portion to efiect said bias, and mean-s for holding said sections together.

15. A watercraft running light utilizing an electric bulb of the type having a global portion and a shank portion smaller in diameter than the global portion,.comprising a body structure for housing a battery source ofelectric power, and including abutting vertical front and rear sections, a depression in the upper part of said firont section terminating in a bore communicating with the interior of said body structure, said bore having a wall defining the same, said bore being largerat the inner side of said sec-. tion than where the said bore intersects said depression such that said wall defines a seat for said global portion by said bore in said front section and being expandable to jecting through said opening outwardly of said mounting member and the said seats being so spaced with respect to each other other such that said global portion of said bulb is resiliently confined therebetween.

16. A running light for watercraft employing anelectric bulb of the type having a global portion and a shank portion smaller in diameter than said global portion, said light comprising a substantially rigid hollow body structure having a top and base and including vertical abutting front and rear sections whose plane of abuttment 7 of said'bulb, an aperture connecting said depressions, a

resilient bulb mounting member at least in part overa lying saidsecond depression and secured to an inner face of said front section substantially paralleling the plane of abuttment of said sections, said'member resiliently holding said bulb with its global portion in said second depression and with itsshank portionprojecting through i said member 'at an angle generally normal to said inner face, and-means releasably securing said sections together.

17. A running light for attachment to a mast stay of'a sailing vessel comprising a hollow body structure having a window, said structure housing lighting means which when energized will project a beam of light through said window in a generally predetermined plane, channel means lat the surface of said body structure in a plane generally paralleling the plane of said beam, a split body structure supporting ring'embracing said body structure in said channel meansand mounting said body structure for swing adjustment of said window thereof in the plane in which said light beam projects, clamping means for releasably clamping said ring in said channel means in predetermined swing position of said body structure and window, and means for attaching said running light to a mast stay including a substantially rigid outrigger rigidly connected with said ring and extending outwardly thereof and releasable stay' clamping means on said outrigger spaced from said ring for rigidly attaching said outrigger to said mast stay.

l8. Asailing craft running light of the type using an electric bulb having a longitudinal axis, said light comprising ahollow body structure, a depression in said body structure defined by the outersurface thereof and terminating in an aperture communicating with the interior ofsaid'body' structure, an electric bulb supporting means in the interior of said body structure adjacent'said aperture and mounting said bulb to project a beam of light outwardly of said, depression when said light is in opera tive position, in a path defined by a generally horizontal planecontaining the axis of said bulb, said, depression being'shaped to define a light beam whose angle of visability is within a predetermined compass angle measured in'said horizontal plane and which has a predetermined angleof depression below said horizontal plane, body structure supporting means rotatably mounting said body structure below said depression for selective rotation rela- '12 tive to this supportingrneans on a general axis substantially normal to said horizontal plane in which said light beam projects, a substantially rigid outrigger structure connecting with said supporting means and extending out- Wardly from said supporting means and stay gripping means on said outrigger structure for securing said outrigger structure to a mast stay, said body structure means including holding structure for releasably holding said body structure in a rotative position providing a predetermined angle in said horizontal plane between said light beam and said outrigger structure.

19. A running light for water sailing craft having a mast, a mast stay, and a fore and aft centerline and which light includes an electric bulb having a longitudinal axis, said light comprising a hollow body structure, a depression in said body structure defined by the outer surface thereof and terminating in. an aperture communicating with said bulb, said bulb when energized directing a beam of light outwardly of said depression in a general plane containing the longitudinal axis of said bulb, a mast stay outrigger, a gripping element on said outrigger securing said outrigger to said stay with said outrigger extending transversely of said stay, a body structure supporting means rigidly secured to said outrigger and mounting said body structure for rotation on an axis generally normal to said plane of said light beam and generally paralleling the axis of the mast, whereby said depression and light beam may be swung about said axis to a predetermined angular position relative to said outrigger and said fore and aft centerline, and means for releasably holding said body structure in said predetermined rotatable position.

20. A running light for Watercraft comprising a hollow body structure for housing a source of electric power and an electric bulb for casting a beam of light from said body structure, a generally pie-shape depression in the upper outer surface portion of said body structure terminating inwardly in an aperture connecting said depression with the interior ofsaid body structure, bulb supporting means interiorly of said body structure supporting said bulb adjacent said aperture, said bulb when energized projecting a beam of light out through said depression deter-mined by said pie-shaped depression, a ringlike member resiliently embracing said body structure below said depression and rotatably mounting said body structure within said member on an axis normal to the plane of said'member, a substantially rigid body structure and member supporting outrigger extending outwardly from said member and a boat stay gripping ele ment on said outrigger to secure said outrigger to a boat stay, said body structure being rotatable on said axis to swing said beam of light to a predetermined angular position relative to said outrigger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,918,347 

